Netflix promotes Jinny Howe to lead scripted series

Netflix has promoted Jinny Howe to head of U.S. and Canada scripted series as longtime creative executive Peter Friedlander departs after 14 years with the streaming giant. The leadership transition, announced Monday, marks a significant change at the top of Netflix’s most important content division.

Friedlander, who joined Netflix in 2011 as the company’s first dedicated employee on its original series team, will exit after helping oversee some of the platform’s most iconic shows. Howe, who has been rising rapidly through Netflix’s ranks since joining in 2018, will report directly to Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria.imdb

A Rising Star Takes Command

Howe’s promotion represents her fourth advancement in just four years at Netflix. She most recently served as head of drama series under Friedlander, overseeing the development and production of hit series including “Bridgerton,” “Beef,” “The Diplomat,” “Maid,” and “Inventing Anna”.imdb

“Jinny brings an incredible energy and warmth to everything she does, and her creative instincts and deep industry relationships make her an inspiring leader for our scripted series team in the US and Canada,” Bajaria said in a statement. The content chief praised Howe’s talent for “championing bold, distinctive storytelling and building genuine creative partnerships.”imdb

Before joining Netflix, Howe spent more than 13 years at John Wells Productions, where she worked on series including “Shameless” and “Animal Kingdom”. Her first project at Netflix was overseeing the maiden season of “Bridgerton,” which became one of the platform’s biggest hits.imdb

Friedlander’s Netflix Legacy

Friedlander’s departure closes a chapter on one of Netflix’s most transformative periods. He arrived when the company announced its first venture into original programming with “House of Cards,” which premiered in 2013. Over his tenure, he oversaw the development of signature Netflix series including “Black Mirror,” “Mindhunter,” “Marvel’s Daredevil,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “Narcos,” and “Love, Death and Robots”.imdb

“This has truly been the ride of a lifetime,” Friedlander said in a statement. “Joining as the very first employee on the original series team and witnessing this company’s incredible journey — growing into one of the most beloved entertainment brands in the world — has been the thrill of my career.”imdb

The executive expressed particular gratitude to Howe, calling her rise “a privilege” and stating he’s “confident that the company is in the best hands with her at the helm”. Friedlander is expected to take a break before pursuing new opportunities, with producing being a potential option.imdb

Strategic Restructuring

The leadership change reflects Netflix’s continued evolution as it faces increased competition in the streaming landscape. Under Bajaria’s leadership since 2020, Netflix has restructured its content operations around a more traditional studio model with separate divisions for development, current series, and overall talent deals.yahoo

Howe will now oversee a division responsible for major Netflix titles including “Stranger Things,” “Emily in Paris,” “Nobody Wants This,” and “The Lincoln Lawyer”. Her promotion consolidates oversight of all drama areas under her purview, including spectacle and event series, current productions, and shows developed through Netflix’s roster of overall deals.imdb

The transition comes as Netflix continues investing heavily in original content to maintain its competitive edge, with the company spending billions annually on programming across multiple global markets.